Harbour Master Sailing Challenge March 2019 to September 2023

Dublin

September 20, 2023
HM 254. Dublin - behind the scenes in Ireland's largest port.

When entering Dublin harbour from the sea, all mariners need to thank Captain Bligh, of 1789 mutiny fame, for his accurate survey which lead to the building of The Great South harbour wall in 1800. This four kilometre training wall produced the desired "scouring" action by the river Liffe which in turn created a deep channel and safe access for commercial shipping for ever more. Today's harbour is huge, covering 260 ha and includes a tunnel which is free to use for the 10,000 trucks that visit the port annually. However, just 1% ships' freight is cross shipped onto the railway.

All this was explained to me by an enthusiastic HM, Captain Michael McKenna, who went on to tell me that although the harbour works well, it is delicate. Imagine the tunnel getting blocked! His VTS (Vessel Traffic System, which equates to Air Traffic Control) guide each of the 17,000 visiting ships from sea to dock each year, plus quite a few yachts down to the city marina.

I enjoy taking Good Dog through commercial ports as there is always so much to see, and Dublin was no exception. Talking to his VTS operators, they say they encourage yachts talking to them on the VHS radio - luckily I like chatting to them too! Michael is very friendly to yachties and spends the winter giving lectures to local yacht clubs. Well, this is Ireland and isn't everyone friendly?!

He told me a surprising thing, that it is good to have a bit of bad weather in September. He says it sharpens everyone up in preparation for the inevitable winter storms which are viscous when the wind is from the east and can make docking ships extremely tricky.

Michael's father and grandfather were both mariners and he remembers as a boy coming on board ships in the port. His seafaring career followed, travelling the world, with his final job being Chief Officer of a 350k t oil tanker. After meeting his wife in Dublin he moved to skippering Irish Ferries before moving ashore as a trainer. In 2016 he took over as HM and consequently has strong views on the effects of Brexit. He has had to make over an area, the size of 20 football pitches simply for extra freight inspections, in his words "nothing good has come out of Brexit".

Michael is keen on Health and Safety. As HM he feels he can have huge influence over safe working practices and started the "Dublin Safe Port" initiative after some fatalities. He emphasised to me the responsibility he has running a "Critical National Infrastructure". Like other city based ports, if one ship blocks the narrow harbour channel - the country literally grinds to a halt. That is some responsibility.

I really enjoyed meeting Michael and he reckons he has got the best marine job in the country. I won't argue with that and we were sad to sail out of Dublin, past the magnificent pair of Poolbeg power station chimneys.

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